If I’d Made My Speech in London Rather Than Liverpool I Would Probably Have Been Arrested

Tony Greenstein Speech at Liverpool Friends of Palestine Demonstration 12 January 2025

Liverpool Friends of Palestine invited me to speak to their rally after the demonstration there last Sunday and I was more than pleased to avail myself of the opportunity.

The demonstration set off from the Catholic Cathedral on Mount Pleasant and wound its way, via a silent march in Bold Street, through the City Centre.

Highlights from Liverpool Palestine Demonstration 12 January 20255

It was great to be back in the city that I grew up in. The march grew as it continued and it had a great reception from Liverpudlians. There wasn’t one Zionist counter demonstrator or heckler.  A bus driver reached out of his window to shake our hands.

People in Liverpool are renowned for their good humour as well as their solidarity.

If my speech had been made in London there is little doubt that the institutionally racist Metropolitan Police would, as they did on October 4^th last year, have arrested me for a ‘racially aggravated crime’.  Comparing Israel to Nazi Germany is verboten under Commissioner Mark Rowley.

However freedom of speech is still preserved in Liverpool and long may it remain so!

Thanks to Liverpool Friends of Palestine who hosted me and Greg Dropkin in particular.

Below are a few photographs I took of the demonstration.

Tony Greenstein